It is destabilizing to warn the press that it should follow the orders that the police give them in any police action. That destabilizes because it is an infringement on the freedoms of the press and free speech.

It is also destabilizing to say that there is a plan afoot of some disgruntled sectors of the military establishment to pull off something between January 17 and 22, when the Edsa Uno celebrations will occur. (Can we, for goodness’ sakes, already scrap this silly remembering of Edsa I that rid us of a dictator and which also gave us the worse ever governance that this country has ever seen?) Doesn’t it stand to reason that if the state actually had details of some move that actual destabilizers were planning, the government would not be writing press releases about it but would instead move against these enemies of the state?

It certainly is destabilizing that the AFP chief of staff – the highest-ranking military person in the country – lets it be known that he will resist being forced to retire on February 9 when he reaches his retirement age and that he is ready to continue to do his job way beyond his term. What if he does not get what he wants? What if the civilian authority does not give him his heart’s desire? What will happen? Is there a veiled threat to this?

Certainly, his openly talking about what he will do when the President finally extends him does not help to stabilize the state’s situation. In fact, what makes him a destabilizer is that he does not wish the established rules and traditions to apply to himself. If he is exempt from the rules that apply to others, what then is he if not someone who wishes to destabilize the present situation?

A president who, at the drop of a hat, will go the route of changing the Constitution is a destabilizer. What stabilizes the situation is when established law and rules are followed to the letter. It is when one seeks to change the constitution every time it does not fit the plans of any group whether in the majority or the minority that our situation is destabilized. Certainly, amending the Constitution to please the rebellious Muslims is a destabilization move. What else can it be?

If there is any actual destabilization afoot, it is actually only the government that is doing this thing and no one else.

***

Can we please put a stop to our basketball wars? The Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), despite the fact that what is now the approved organization is the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), has been trying to organize the 62nd National Student Basketball Championship, in Cebu City from Feb. 25 to March 2.

The Asian University Sports Federation (AUSF), which is the approved organization of the International Olympic Committee’s International University Sports Federation (FISU), says that the entity that the BAP is using – the Asian University Basketball Federation (AUBF) – has no authority to host the 6th Asian University Basketball Championships (AUBC). This makes the National Students Basketball Championship in Cebu illegitimate and illegal.

Carl Menky Ching, Shin Dong Pa and Chinese citizen Graham Lim, the secretary-general of the old BAP, put the AUBF together. The AUBF is apparently not recognized by either FISU or the International Basketball Federation.

The official communiqué from the AUSF to the Philippine Olympic committee says: "The secretariat of the AUSF officially announced that the AUBF has no relationship with the AUSF, and the AUBF has no right to host the Asian University Championship.

"According to the by-laws of the Asian University Games (AUGs) and Asian University Championships (AUCs), the AUGs and AUCs are properties of AUSF. Only the AUSF executive committee and steering committee have the power to award the hosting rights of AUGs and AUCs to members of the AUSF."

Why can we not all just ignore the BAP, which should already have died out since it no longer serves any purpose? Among the things that should be done is to deny them space for an office at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. It is an anomaly that we continue to give space to an already non-existent organization while no space has been set-aside for the official SBP.

***

We have a letter: "I read your column on your website regarding the DND purchasing a dragonfly. I agree with you sir. Well I used to work at Asian Aerospace Corporation (AAC), owned by Peter Y. Rodriguez, (at the office we call him PRR). I think the DND should look into his office personally located at Lima gate after Andres Soriano Aviation. PRR is a crony of FVR and GMA that’s why AAC always wins the bidding for C-130 or any refurbishing for DND. AAC used to be a partner of Lockheed Martin until the latter severed ties with AAC.

"PRR is also in great terms with then SND Angelo Reyes until Reyes was transferred to another cabinet position.

"If you could only look personally the AAC office in Pasay, I seriously doubt it that company would win a bidding. Today I still keep in touch with my ex- officemates at AAC; there are less than 15 staff to keep the company running.

"I think SND Gilbert Teodoro should look personally into this mess, because the Government (will) lose millions of dollars if they stick with PRR and AAC." – Name Withheld

***

You got your wish. The Secretary of National Defense (SND) is already looking into the matter. To my mind, it was clear from the facts – the two other bidders were ruled non-complying very early on, before they would even make a formal offer when what would have served the government was to have three qualifying bidders and three qualifying aircrafts. Then, the very high price is a give-away that something smells at Villamor (or wherever our Air Force is now located considering that Villamor has been mostly taken over by private entities that bought the land where Villamor is located for what now seems like a very cheap song.